Clasp



(No Model.)

A. SHEDLOCK.

CLASP.

No. 594,569. Patented Nov. 30, 1897.

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CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,569, dated November 30, 1897.

Application filed March 2 2, 1 8 9 7.

To 00% whom it may concern.-

. Be it known that I, ALFRED SHEDLOCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jer sey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

The clasp for garments and for allied purposes forming the subject of this invention embraces the same general principle of gripping action as the clasp shown and described in another application for Letters Patent filed by me simultaneously herewith, Serial No. 628,580, filed March 27, 1897, and the peculiar features of construction will be fully understood by the following description and reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a part elevation showing the clasp applied to a fabric. Fig. 2 is avertical sectional View on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4c shows a modification in the construction of the clasp. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 5 5, Fig. 4; Fig. 6, another modification showing the clasp in front elevation. Fig. 7 is a side view of the same, showing the clasp open; and Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the same on the line 8 8, Fig. 6.

This clasp, like the one described in another application, is composed of two parts or members having interlocking inclined grippingjaws, one of the members being supported and the other member attached thereto and free to slide therein or thereon, being moved by frictional contact with the goods to which the clasp is applied while the goods are being clamped between the gripping-jaws. The difference between the two classes of clasps is one of construction only, the functions performed by them involving the same principles of operation. In the clasps forming the subject of this application the supported memberis the inside one and the moving member the outside one, while in the other case the outside member is supported and the other or inner member is movably attached thereto, the direction of inclination of the grippingjaws in the two cases being reversed.

The suspended or supported member A in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is composed of india-rubber Serial No. 628,581. (No model.)

or other suitable material, is flat and of uniform thickness at all parts, and has its side or edges parallel at the upper part and inclined at the lower part, said inclined sides A A being grooved and converging from the bottom edge of the member to where they meet the parallel parts of the sides. Through the parallel part is transversely formed a slot A and from the upper end of this member to this slot are formed two holes, through which is passed the supporting-cord B, bymeans of which the clasp is suspended. The other member is composed of a piece of wire bent, as shown, to form a bar 0 at the lower end, two inclined sides 0 O, and a bar 0 at its upper end for connection with the member A, said bar 0 being produced by bending inwardly the ends of the wire, so that they may be entered into the slot A The length and width of this outside member are such that when it occupies its lowest position relative to the suspended member A-that is, with bar 0 at or near the lower end of the slot A the inclined sides 0 O will fit into the grooved inclined sides A A, and when located in its highest position with the bar Ciat the upper end of the slot A its inclined sides will clear the inclined sides A A, leaving it free to be swung on its bar 0 as a pivot away from the member A for the admission of the goods between the two members. The grooved inclined sides A A of the inner member and the rounded inclined sides 0 O of the outer member constitute the interlocking inclined gripping-jaws of the device.

After the'clasp','with the jaws open, has been passed over the edge of the piece of fabric D the outer member 0 O is pressed down to bring its inclined jaws in a plane with the inclined jaws .A A, and this outer member will by its freedom to slide on the inner member and by frictional contact with the fabric be drawn down with the fabric, thereby causing the fabric D to be gripped firmly between the inclined jaws, as shown at Figs. 1 and 3, and due to this self-gripping action of the device its holding properties will increase with increased tensional strain imparted to the fabric D.

In the modification shown at Figs. at and 5 the outside member E is formed of a piece of sheet metal, with its sides bent over to constitute the rounded inclined gripping-jaws E E, adapted to fit into the grooved inclined jaws A A of the member A, as shown at Fig. 5. The connecting device of the two members consists of a wire F, fitting in the slot A and through ears formed at sides of the member E at its upper end. The general form and operation of this outer member E are similar to those of the member 0 C, before described, the only difference being that the member E will be elastic or give 011 a central vertical line passing through its flat front, while the outside member in the other case will spring under lateral strains at the lower bar C.

The wire outer member C G C of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is retained in the modification shown at Figs. (3, 7, and S. The inner suspended member G has the same general form as the member A, but is made of a piece of sheet metal blanked out in the requisite form to be folded at the upper end and having side pieces adapted to be bent so as to produce the inclined side grooves G the two parts formingthe front and back being seamed together, as shown at G G The slot for the admission of the upper bar C is produced by the space between the back and front at their upper parts. A slot G is made in the upper bend, and through this slot is passed the supporting-webbing II, the lower edge of which is folded or hemmed, as shown at Fig. 7, to prevent the withdrawal of the webbing from the member G.

The sides G G are straight-that is, they incline inwardly in right lines toward the upper end of the member. The other forms of clasp here shown may be made in this way, it not being necessary that the upper part of the inside member shall have parallel sides, as the clasp performs its functions practically as well when the whole of the sides incline.

The jaws of the sliding member of this form of clasp may be roughened or serrated to produce more perfect friction between the fabric and these jaws.

I have limited the claims in this application to the particular construction of the clasps here shown and described, and in the beforementioued application have claimed, broadly, the features of novelty common to the two clasps.

I claim as my invention- 1. I11 a clasp, the combination of an inner member having its sides grooved and divergently inclined toward its lower end, a sup porting webbing or cord attached to its upper end, the outer memberconsisting of an open wire loop whose sides are inclined correspondingly to the inclined sides of the inner member and means for connecting the two members together to allow the outer member to swing away from the inner member for the admission of a fabric between them, to be brought together with the counterparts of the gripping-jaws in one plane to grip the fabric between them, and to be free to slide with the fabric, thereby firmly gripping it without adding to its initial distortion.

2. In a clasp the combination of an inner member having exterior gripping-surfaces formed by its sides inclined divergently from their upper to their lower parts, a supporting webbing or cord attached to the upper end of this member, an outer member having interior gripping-surfaces at its sides corrcspondingly inclined to fit over the inclined jaws of the sides of the inner member, said inner member having a slot laterally formed through it at its upper part, and a pin or bar at the upper end of the outer member arranged to slide in said slot.

3. In a clasp, the combination of an inner member having the sides divergently inclined downwardly and grooved, and a slot formed transversely through the upper part, a supporting cord or device attached to the upper end of the inner member and an outer member formed of a piece of wire with a bar at its lower end, two inclined sides corresponding to the inclined sides of the inner member and a bar at its upper end located in the transverse slot of the inner member.

et. In a clasp, the combination of two members one of which is supported and having exterior gripping-surfaces, and the other one having an open face whose sides form gripping-surfaces and attached thereto so to partly surround it, the interlocking surfaces of said members being inclined and diverging from their upper to their lower parts, one or both of the members being spring-acting to provide for yielding between the inclined sides, the said outside member being free to slide on and swing away from the inner supported member when in its upper position thereon.

5. I11 a clasp the combination of an inner member having exteriorgripping-jaws formed by its sides inclined divergently from their upper to their lower parts, a supporting wcbbing or cord attached to the upper end of this member, an outer member consisting of an open wire loop' whose sides are correspondingly inclined to fit over the inclined jaws of the sides of the inner member, said inner member having a slot laterally formed through it at its upper part, and a pin or bar at the upper end of the outer member arranged to slide in said slot, the bar at the upper end being separated at its central part thereby affording elasticity to the sides.

In testimony whereof'I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ALFRED SIIEDLOCK.

\Vitn esses:

FRANK S. OBER, O. D. LADLEY. 

